Wow! Another game for La Viola
involving a wow! This time Prandelli’s
charges manage to beat Juventus in Turin
in a blinder o####ame. Five goals,
brilliant play, tactical shenanigans and edge of the seat excitement. Oh and that is the team the Blues is going to
play on Thursday.
The Stadio Olimpico in Turin is ripe for a tough
European six pointer. With Milan only managing a draw
and Roma winning three points is vital in the hunt for the prime European
spots. A decent and vocal crowd and high
expectations greeted the opening whistle.
Ranierii’s eleven is still
missing some key pieces in the middle and at the back, although still strong. Buffon comes into the ‘keepers spot with a
makeshift back four of Zebina, Legrottaglie, Grygera and Molinaro. Midfield sees Camoranesi and Palladino provide
the attacking flair with Sissoko and Zanetti providing the solidity. Del Piero and Trezeguet partner up
front.
Prandelli; without star forward
and with a UEFA Cup Night in midweek still picks an attacking eleven.
Frey retains the ‘keeper’s jersey
and has a familiar; if not first choice; back four in front of him of Ujfalusi
and Gobbi wide with Gamberini and Kroldrup in the middle. Kuzmanovic, Donadel and Montolivo make up the
midfield with Pazzini leading a three man attack flanked by Santana on the
right and top notch utility player Jorgenson on the left.
Juventus start off sharpish in an
open game, Kuzmanovic almost buries Santana’s cross and Zebina almost finishes
a move he starts with a header just over Frey’s bar.
Fiorentina lay it out and make
you beat them, they play the same home and away and don’t change much as they
profess to be ‘unable to protect a lead’.
They get the ball out wide and
aim for dangerous crosses or cutting runs into the area with midfielders coming late in
support.
Juventus are crossers too and
they also like to play it quickly forward through the middle.
The game unfolds kindly for a
hard working and ebullient Fiorentina, Santana’s runs causing Molinaro all
sorts of problems, Pazzini is a handful for a less than solid back four and
Fiorentina push up or drop back very well as a team. La Viola’s runs at Juve cause all sorts of
problems, Buffon has to be at his best when he’s clearly not 100%.
Another direct run and a lovely one
two sees Gobbi beat Buffon for the opener.
Pushing up from the right back berth the midfielder uses Jorgenson as a
foil before a continuation of his run, a static Juve defence and a great return
from the Dane combine well and a neat finish bulges the back of the net.
More of the same without actually
scoring fills the next ten minutes.
Juve are struggling to mount
meaningful attacks and seeing little of the ball. A free kick from the left sees Frey flail
weakly at the ball in, it drops kindly to Sissoko who uses his Kuyt inspired
Kung Fu and beats Frey with a spectacular overhead kick.
Fiorentina’s fragility comes to
the fore, they still go forward but lack the edge they had in the first half
and Juventus gradually neutralize the threat and finish the half even on honours
and possession. The stalemate continues
into the second half without either team threatening greatly.
Juve look most dangerous
exploiting the space on the break and some tweaking from the bench moves some
players around and pays handsome dividends.
Palladino; exerting more
influence as the game wears on; plays in Molinaro on the right, his back post
cross confuses the Viola centre backs and allows Camoranesi the opportunity to volley
a scorcher in for a two-one lead.
Fragility and glass jaws aside Fiorentina
keep on plugging. Prandelli makes some
astute changes and Osvaldo gets his shot (courtesy of Ujfalusi and the
utilitarian nature of Jorgenson who slots into the right back role!) and the
trickery of Santana is swapped for the pace of Papa Waigo.
Ranierii shuts up shop with the
removal if Camoranesi for Nocerino and he swaps guile for size when Del Piero
is replaced by Iaquinta.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another twenty
minutes.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
Osvaldo runs at Juve and the
loose ball bounces for Pazzini, he lays it intelligently wide to Papa Waigo who
is given time to take the three touches he needs to slot it beyond Buffon.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another fifteen
minutes. Iaquinta had a free kick go
just wide.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
La Viola just doesn’t quit, they
may slow up a little but they just keep on attacking. The two substitutes combine again to bag the
injury time winner. Papa Waigo’s pace
allows him some space on the right and he crosses well for Osvaldo to head past
Buffon at the near post.
Ranierii has seen his side slump
to one point in three games and seen Fiorentina close the points gap. Injuries have been a factor but shutting up
shop and then conceding two late on is shoddy at best. The Bianconeri can complain about cheats and
punishment all they want, they have a fine squad, good players and a good
manager, they just aren’t playing as well as they can recently.
Prandelli will be fashionably
delighted. Smart changes freshen up his
side and his tactics were carried out in exemplary fashion by his players. The side is still not at full strength yet
worked hard and created much. La Viola
are young side sprinkled with experience and style. They play a good brand of football with some
good energy and commitment. Five years ago
they were defunct and now they have climbed back into the upper echelons of
Serie A and Europe. They are always susceptible when ahead but do
score freely.
Expect that at home on Thursday
night they play with the same attacking and committed 4 3 3 against Everton; even
though the personnel will be different
Tough and rumble at the San Siro, a skillful and physical game decided
by a simple tap in miss; all this against a backdrop of woeful refereeing;
Fiorentina get a point with a 1-1 draw in Milan.
San Siro, a majestic stadium but
not filled up due to the Monday kick off; Milan
having won the European Super Cup on Friday.
The first big crunch match of the season, two teams with valid Scudetto
aspirations meeting.
Anchelotti fielded a strong side
after the Friday win against Sevilla, the Viola one of this years fancied
teams; Dida stayed in goal with a back four of Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze and
Jankulovski; the experienced deep midfield of Gattuso, Pirlo and Ambrosini
supported Kaka and Seedorf who play further forward with Gilardino at the point
of attack.
Prandelli fielded a strong side
also, Frey; likely to get his France call up; in goal; the back four was
Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini and Pasqual; two lines of three started with
Donadel, Liverani; creating attacks; and Gobbi then Santana, Pazzini and Mutu.
Fiorentina start brightly, Mutu
being key to pressure applied down the left flank, the Romanian gets on the end
of a Pasqual cross but heads weakly at Dida.
Milan’s first attack yields a
poor Pirlo free kick, the ‘DaVinci of football’ gets a better second ball in
but Fiorentina clear and break quickly; Mutu finding the run of Santana but the
Argentinean runs into the staunch Georgian defender Kaladze.
La Viola pressure early; Santana
firing high and wide; Liverani firing a free kick at the Rossoneri wall and
Mutu seeing his attempted pass to Pazzini cut out by Dida.
Milan; starting to overpower the
midfield get forward but Gilardino‘s touch is poor and Fiore clear, the next
attack is much better; Ambrosini brings it from the halfway line finds Seedorf
who sees the overlapping run of Jankulovski, his cross from the left is headed
on by Ambrosini and Kaka fires the ball back into the danger area, Gilardino
turns and scoops the ball goal wards but a diving Frey tips the ball with his
left hand then scoops it clear with his right.
Fiorentina are put under
pressure, Dianelli looking poor against Gilardino. The visitors respond with attacks from
Pazzini, Liverani and Mutu; then a Milan
break sees a great ball from Seedorf slip past Gilardino.
The ball is flying around as are
the tackles; Milan’s
Snarling Dog has Mutu’s number and has fouled him half a dozen times so
far.
Pirlo shows his class with a neat
ball forward, Kaladze crosses for Ambrosini but he is tripped by Dainelli in
the area; Kaka converts the penalty kick for his third goal of the season.
Mutu gets a nice dig back at
Gattuso and the referee has words.
Kaka fires wide off Pirlo and
Gilardino; Oddo combines with Seedorf on the right but delivers a poor cross;
Pazzini is offside after good work from Mutu and Santana; then both Gilardino
and Pazzini can’t convert chances; Pirlo finds Kaka at the far post, the ball
back is a nice height for Seedorf but the Dutchman fires well wide; Ambrosini
steals the ball from Liverani and plays in Gilardino, his first touch is poor
and he loses possession.
Half time sees no changes for
either side.
The second half starts with
leftovers from the first, Gattuso fouling Mutu for a seventh time.
Milan have taken their foot of
the juice, content to dominate and hold the midfield they look to stifle
Fiorentina, the visitors look to their skill players; Mutu and Liverani; to
create something but still work hard for the ball.
La Viola’s persistence pays dividends as the hour draws near, Liverani on the
left plays in Pasqual, his cross his poked forward back into danger by
Ambrosini; Santana beats Nesta to the ball and executes a cute trick to gain
half a yard on the veteran defender, he crosses from the byline to an open Mutu
who heads past a flailing Dida at the back stick.
Milan comes out attacking but seems a tad
ponderous; Oddo wins a corner kick and the player who has the final shot is
Gattuso.
Both coaches make changes, Vieri
and Semiolo coming on for Fiorentina and Cafu making an appearance for Milan.
Seedorf, Milan’s most industrious player; wins a
corner kick which Fiorentina scramble clear, eventually. Kaka finds space inside for a shot; he
delivers the ball with pace and power; Frey unsure of his near post touches the
shot even further wide and out for a corner.
Vieri gets on the end of Liverani
pass Fiorentina count ad fires across Dida, just wide.
Vieri wins a header under
pressure from Kaladze but sees the referee indicate a Milan free kick; then Gobbi hacks Pirlo but
play goes on.
Milan’s chance at an equalizer comes and
goes, Ambrosini cuts between two Viola and players an inch perfect ball inside;
Inzaghi is alone, eight yards out with an open goal in front of him and can’t
connect with the ball.
Fiorentina sit back looking for a
valuable away point but for all their possession and endeavour Milan can’t break them down; Cafu fires a
shot high and wide.
Quick breaks threaten a winner
for Fiorentina; a three on two develops and the ball is played wide to Semiolo,
his cross reaches Vieri; through Nesta; at the far post but the shot flies
wide; Gattuso bails out Cafu for a corner kick and Dida palms away the corner
kick and Nesta tackles Vieri well in the area.
A Cafu cross is easily cleared by
Fiorentina, Mutu skins Kaladze and cuts the ball inside for Vieri, no shot from
the veteran but a neat ball out to Semiolo who plays a quick ball back inside
for Kuzmanovic, Dida is statuesque but the ball comes back off the post, after
the ball is played in Kuzmanovic is hewn down by Kaladze; Milan eventually
clear an as it goes up field Kaka, Gattuso, Liverani all get shirty as tempers
flair; Gattuso and Liverani get carded, the Viola for an elbow and the
Rossoneri for mouthing off.
A capricious finish sees a
Semiolo cross cleared; a Pirlo cross taken from the head of Inzaghi by Frey; A
Dida save off Vieri; good defending as Dainelli holds off Inzaghi; a poor Pirlo
free kick and a late howler from the referee to gift Milan a late free
kick.
Frenetic but the score remains
the same.
Great away point, they could have
won but could just have easily lost.
Overcome in midfield but not overawed La Viola fought back for an
equalizer, Santana looks good; Liverani has great vision, Mutu is class; Vieri
an Pazzini both came close, the defence held mostly firm and Frey made two
quality saves.
Should have gotten all three
points, terrible miss from Super Pippo!
The Rossoneri tired late in the game and their substitutions; notably
Cafu and Emerson don’t have the punch they once did. Kaka looked wooden at times but Seedorf looks
good, Pirlo creates problems and they have their Snarling Dog.
Nice to see the English don’t
have a monopoly on poor refereeing.
Farina was cack.
Gattuso kept hacking away at
Mutu; seven times in all; yet didn’t see yellow; Semiolo cleanly tackles Pirlo
and Farina gives Milan a free kick; Ujfalusi wins ball from Seedorf, Milan get
free kick; Kuzmanovic is taken out by Kaladze and doesn’t get a penalty kick;
Gobbi scythes down Pirlo and play goes on; Kaladze shoulder charges Vieri,
doesn’t get any of the ball and the whistle goes for Milan and Inzaghi dives
late on and wins a free kick not a yellow.
Farina did spot the Milan penalty and quickly
dealt with the handbags late on but he let too many fouls go unpunished.
